The Constitution of India Review Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the structure, salient features, key articles, and components of the Indian Constitution based on the 39th Batch training materials.

Constitution

A body of supreme and fundamental laws that lays down the basic structure governing the political system and its people, establishing institutions and demarcating powers.

Sir BN Rau

The individual from the Advisory Branch of the Office of the Constituent Assembly who prepared the first draft of the constitution in October, 1947.

Drafting Committee

The committee appointed on 29th Aug, 1947, with B.R. Ambedkar as the chairman, charged with scrutinizing the text of the constitution.

November 26, 1949

The date when the people of India adopted, enacted, and gave themselves the Constitution.

January 26, 1950

The date the Constitution came into effect, replacing the Government of India Act 1935 and making India a Republic.

Written Constitution

A document deliberately framed at a given time and adopted on a fixed date, such as the Indian Constitution framed between 9th Dec., 1946 and 26th Nov., 1949.

Lengthiest Constitution

A feature of the Indian Constitution, which originally had 395 Articles and 8 Schedules, and reached 448 articles, 12 schedules, and 25 parts by subsequent additions.

Living Constitution

A term describing how the Indian Constitution is alive and changing through amendments like the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 and the 73rd Amendment Act, 1993.

Preamble

An introductory statement to the constitution that embodies fundamental values, philosophy, aims, and objectives or aspirations.

Secular

A term incorporated by the 42nd Amendment 1976 meaning the state deals with individuals as citizens irrespective of religion and does not seek to promote or interfere with it.

Overseas Citizenship of India

A concept introduced in 2005 for persons of Indian origin in foreign countries (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) whose home countries allow dual citizenship.

Loss of Indian Citizenship

A process occurring through three ways: Renunciation (voluntary), Termination (acquisition of another citizenship), or Deprivation (compulsory termination by the government).

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016

A bill proposing that minorities (Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Christians) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan shall not be treated as illegal immigrants.

Nominal Head

A formal head of state, such as the President of India, who 'reigns but does not rule' and functions primarily in a ceremonial role.

Real Head

The head of government, specifically the Prime Minister, who exercises real executive power and is responsible to the parliament.

Collective Responsibility

The constitutional principle where the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, is responsible to the legislature for its actions.

Article 79

The article specifying that the Parliament of India consists of the President and two Houses: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Lok Sabha

The Lower House or House of the People, requiring members to be Indian citizens, at least 25 years of age, and not holding an office of profit.

Rajya Sabha

The Upper House or Council of States, consisting of not more than 250 members, including 12 nominated by the President for special knowledge in science, art, etc.

Money Bill (Article 110)

A bill dealing with taxes or government borrowing that can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha and cannot be rejected or amended by the Rajya Sabha.

Seventh Schedule

The part of the Constitution that defines the allocation of powers through three lists: Union List, States List, and Concurrent List.

Governor

The head of the State Executive appointed by the President for a term of five years, who must be an Indian citizen over 35 years of age.

Original Jurisdiction (Article 131)

The Supreme Court's exclusive power to hear disputes between the Union and a State or between states.

Advisory Jurisdiction

The power of the Supreme Court to render non-binding opinions on questions of fact or law referred to it by the President.

Justiciable

A characteristic of Fundamental Rights meaning they are enforceable in a court of law; the judiciary can set aside laws that infringe upon them.

Right to Property

A right removed from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978, and currently classified as a legal right.

Habeas Corpus

A court order to the state or law enforcement to physically produce an arrested person and justify their confinement or release them.

Directive Principles of State Policy

Guidelines in Part IV (Article 37) that are fundamental in the governance of the country and instructions for governments to formulate policies for economic justice.

Article 51A

Added by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, this article lists the Fundamental Duties of every Indian citizen.